UNESCO News Service

"The erosion of biodiversity is as big a global challenge as climate change," cautions Irina Bokova

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, opened the "Biodiversity Science Policy Conference" on Monday by underlining that preserving biological diversity represents "as big a global challenge as climate change". ...

UNESCO commemorates victims of the Holocaust

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0100

The victims of the Holocaust will be remembered in a ceremony to be held at UNESCO Headquarters on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration and death camps, designated by the United Nations in 2005 as the ...

Director-General condemns the murder of Mexican journalist Jos� Luis Romero

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0100

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the killing of Jos� Luis Romero whose dead body was found on 16 January.

Intangible heritage: helping heal disaster victims

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +0100

Survivors of the quake have been seen and heard singing traditional songs and hymns, playing the drums and seeking comfort and strength from their rich intangible cultural heritage, which in many cases is all they have left

Preserving biodiversity: a vital challenge

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0100

Halting the unprecedented erosion of biodiversity and raising awareness of the need to change our behaviour are urgent priorities. ...

Heritage in Haiti

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0100

While saving lives and providing humanitarian relief remains the absolute priority of the international community in helping Haiti deal with the devastation of the earthquake, information is beginning to arrive about the state of the country's ...

International Year highlights the vital importance of biodiversity

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:10:00 +0100

Can we imagine a world without polar bears, or Great White sharks, or the Queen of the Andes (Puya raimondii) - a plant species found high in the mountains of Peru and Bolivia? Well, yes. ...

Financial crisis threatens to set back education worldwide, UNESCO report warns

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0100

The aftershock of the global financial crisis threatens to deprive millions of children in the world's poorest countries of an education, the 2010 Education for All Global Monitoring Report warns. ...

UNESCO Director-General deplores the death of British journalist Rupert Hamer in Afghanistan

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:35:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, today expressed sorrow at the death of British journalist Rupert Hamer, who was killed on 9 January in the explosion of a roadside bomb when travelling with a U.S. ...

Iraqi calligrapher Ghani Alani and Polish publisher Anna Parzymies share 2009 Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The 2009 Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture has been awarded to the Iraqi poet and calligrapher Ghani Alani and the Polish publisher and academic Anna Parzymies. ...

UNESCO organizing two events to launch International Year of Biodiversity

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:45:00 +0100

This year, 2010, has been proclaimed International Biodiversity Year by the United Nations and kicks off with an inaugural event (21-22 January) and a scientific conference (25-29 January) organized by UNESCO at headquarters. ...

UNESCO Director-General appeals for emergency aid for Haiti

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:00:00 +0100

"If ever there were a time for the international community to show solidarity, it is now. I issue this appeal to all sectors of society - governments, foundations and other donors, individuals. ...

Director-General Irina Bokova expresses concern and pledges UNESCO's support for Haiti earthquake victims

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:35:00 +0100

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today expressed her shock and concern over the devastation caused by the earthquake that struck Haiti, and pledged UNESCO's support for the victims of the disaster.

Financial crisis threatens to set back education worldwide, UNESCO report warns

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:35:00 +0100

The aftershock of the global financial crisis threatens to deprive millions of children in the world's poorest countries of an education, warns the 2010 Education for All Global Monitoring Report. ...

UNESCO Director-General condemns killing of Bulgarian journalist Bobi Tsankov

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:30:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, condemned today the murder of Bulgarian journalist Bobi Tsankov, who was shot dead by two unidentified attackers in Sofia on 5 January. ...

UNESCO Director-General expresses her profound sadness at the death of Philippe S�guin

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0100

"The death of Philippe S�guin was a great shock, filling me with immense sadness," said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today. "He will be sorely missed. I send my sincere condolences to his family. ...

UNESCO Director-General condemns killing of Canadian journalist and kidnapping of two French television journalists in Afghanistan

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, today condemned the killing of Canadian journalist Michelle Lang in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on 30 December 2009. ...

Director-General pays tribute to artist Paul Ahyi, UNESCO Artist for Peace

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, paid tribute to Professor Paul Ahyi, a UNESCO Artist for Peace. Mr Ahyi died on 4 January in Lome (Togo).

Director-General condemns murderous attack on Peshawar Press Club

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:45:00 +0100

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the suicide bombing of the Peshawar Press Club (Pakistan) in which four people died and many were injured on 22 December.

Director-General Irina Bokova condemns murder of Kyrgyz journalist Gennady Pavlyuk

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:30:00 +0100

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the killing of Kyrgyz journalist Gennady Pavlyuk and asked for an investigation into this crime.

Director-General condemns murder of Turkish journalist Cihan Hayirsevener

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:05:00 +0100

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the killing of Turkish journalist Cihan Hayirsevener, who was shot dead on 18 December in Bandirma in Balikesir province. Ms Bokova also called for an investigation into the killing.

Director-General condemns killing of Colombian journalist Harold Humberto Rivas Quevedo

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, today condemned the murder of Colombian television journalist Harold Humberto Rivas Quevedo on 15 December and called for an investigation into this crime.

Director-General condemns assassination of Brazilian radio host Jos� Givonaldo Vieira

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, today condemned the assassination of Jos� Givonaldo Vieira, who was shot dead in Bezerros in the State of Pernambuco on 14 December.

Director General presents UNESCO climate change initiative at Copenhagen Conference

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, yesterday presented UNESCO's climate change initiative at a press briefing held during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Professor Renzong Qiu to receive 2009 Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science at UNESCO

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:00:00 +0100

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has awarded the 2009 Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science to Professor Renzong Qiu from the People's Republic of China, a pioneer in the field of bioethics.